Column

  1. Math

    Dots and Boxes

    The familiar pencil-and-paper game of Dots-and-Boxes sounds exceedingly simple. Given a square or rectangular array of dots, two players take turns joining two adjacent dots with a horizontal or vertical line. When such a move adds the fourth side of a box, the player who did the deed claims the box (marking it with his […]

    By Ivars Peterson
  2. Math

    Fractured Granite and Fractal Prints

    A rectangular slab of polished granite gives an impression of solidity and permanence. With its straight lines and glossy surface, it’s an elegant, humanmade artifact meant to stand as a timeless monument or serve as an impermeable skin for a sleek skyscraper. A fractal stone print.